Women's Lacrosse 2/16/2017 12:02:00 PM

RADFORD LACROSSE OPENS SEASON HOSTING SAINT FRANCIS

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RADFORD, Va. – The Radford women's lacrosse team kicks off the 2017 season, its second as a program, on Sunday hosting Saint Francis (Pa.) at Cupp Stadium. Opening draw is set for noon.

SETTING THE STAGE
• Series: SFU leads 1-0, won last meeting 23-8 (Feb. 20, 2016 - Loretto, Pa.)
• Location: Cupp Stadium
• Live Stats

"We're just really excited to get going at this point," second year head coach Haley Marvine said. "We've been doing a lot of work since September to get to this point. As a coaching staff and as a team I feel that we're really excited to get out there and play another team."

The Highlanders look to improve in year two after a 1-14 record in 2016. Sophomores, Juliette Ruland, Adrian Rius and Emma Rogers return as roughly 60 percent of the scoring from last season. Ruland and Rius scored 25 goals and Rogers scored 24.

Callie Bonnel, who was named Preseason All-Big South, returns as last season's team leader in assists with 11. She also chipped in 14 goals, which is fifth best on the team.

The 2017 squad features nine true freshmen and two redshirt freshmen. Attacker Lindsey Carroll and defender Megan Hawken, are a couple of true freshmen that have done well in preparation for the upcoming season. Throw in redshirt freshman midfielder, Emily Kowalik, as the freshmen to keep an eye on in 2017.

THE ATTACKERS
Rius is one of the top returning attackers for the Highlanders. As a freshman she led the Big South with 4.53 draw controls per game and led the team with 68 total draw controls.

"What I love about our attackers right now, we are not a team that relies on our scoring from one or two players," Marvine said. "We pass the ball a lot and we dish it to a lot of different kids. We believe that whatever four kids we have on the field can put the ball in the back of the net."

THE MIDFIELDERS
Ruland, Rogers and Bonnel lead the way in the midfield. These three were a hefty portion of the offense last season as they combined 63 goals and 25 assists. Rogers caused 13 turnovers, the most of any Highlander in 2016.

"This is probably our strongest position," Marvin explained. "The midfielders that we have are extremely fast and play great on both ends of the ball. They are all really capable of scoring."

THE DEFENDERS
Sophomore Shelby Merchant returns as one of the top defenders from a season ago. The Fairfax, Va., native caused 10 turnovers and added 27 ground ball pick ups, both were the most out of any defender last year.

"We've switched up completely how we played defense," said Marvine. "We as coaches did a lot to learn and change what we were doing. The team has bought in and I think it's one of the strongest parts of our game."

THE GOALKEEPERS
Maddie Mashewske and Jenny Davis will contest for the starting spot at goalkeeper. Both look to step up in the net as true freshmen.

"We will feel 100 percent confident in whoever is at goalkeeper for us," Marvine went on to say. "It could be that one of them sees time the whole game or that we rotate goalies. We're happy and confident with how they've been doing in practice."

SCOUTING SAINT FRANCIS
Saint Francis is under new leadership as first year head coach Kara Concheck begins her first full season. The Red Flash went 4-16 last season, but won the last meeting against Radford with a 23-8 victory.

The Red Flash return 14 players, including their top four scorers from a season ago. Holly Lawrence scored 37 goals for Saint Francis with a .381 shot percentage and a .856 shot on goal percentage.

UP NEXT
Radford continues the action on Wednesday night at 4 p.m., as LIU Brooklyn travels to Cupp Stadium.

For the latest on Radford Athletics, please subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Highlander Happenings.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Callie Bonnel: MF; 5' 2"; Sophomore

#11 Shelby Merchant: D; 5' 4"; Sophomore

#15 Adrian Rius: A/MF; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#14 Emma Rogers: A/MF; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#4 Juliette Ruland: A/MF; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#26 Megan Hawken: D; 5' 11"; Freshman

#2 Lindsey Carroll: A; 5' 5"; Freshman

#5 Maddie Mashewske: GK; 5' 5"; Freshman

#29 Jenny Davis: GK; 5' 7"; Freshman

#19 Emily Kowalik: MF/A; 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

#1 Callie Bonnel
: 5' 2"; Sophomore
: MF

#11 Shelby Merchant
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: D

#15 Adrian Rius
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: A/MF

#14 Emma Rogers
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: A/MF

#4 Juliette Ruland
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: A/MF

#26 Megan Hawken
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: D

#2 Lindsey Carroll
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: A

#5 Maddie Mashewske
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: GK

#29 Jenny Davis
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: GK

#19 Emily Kowalik
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman
: MF/A